Ethnic
groups: European 71.2%, Maori
14.1%, Asian 11.3%,
Pacific peoples 7.6%, Middle Eastern,
Latin American,
African 1.1%, other 1.6%, not stated or
unidentified 5.4% (2013)
note: percentages add up to more than
100% because people were able to
identify more than one ethnic group.

13 Dec
1642
Discovered by Dutch Capt. Abel Tasman
and
named Staten Landt,
later known as Nieuw
Zeeland. 8 Oct 1769 -
28 Feb 1777 Circumnavigated and
claimed for Britain by
Capt. James Cook.1792
British settlement begins.28 Oct
1835
Maori declare independence
(Confederation of the United Tribes)
under British protectorate.30 Jan
1840
New Zealand officially a British
possession as
part of New South Wales (see
under Australiancolonies).21 May
1840
British sovereignty proclaimed over
all of New
Zealand- over the North Island on the
basis of
cession by the Treaty of Waitangi and
the
southern islands by
right of discovery; over
Stewart Island on 5
Jun 1840, and over the South
Island on 17 Jun 1840. 3 May
1841
New Zealand a separate colony. 1 Nov
1842
Chatham, Bounty, Antipodes, and
Auckland Islands
and Campbell Island are annexed. 6 Jun
1887
Kermadec Islands annexed.26 Sep
1907
Dominion of New Zealand.11 Dec
1931
Statute of Westminster grants full
sovereignty
to the British dominions.25 Nov
1947
New Zealand ratifies the Statute of
Westminster.1 Nov
1983
Legally defined as a part of the
"Realm of New
Zealand" (in official use from 1953).
1 Jan
1987
Official use of the term "Dominion"
ended (New
Zealand [= from 1 Aug 1987,
Aotearoa]).

¹The style of the ruler:(a) 26 Sep 1907 - 12 May 1927: "By the
Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas
King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India"; (b) 12 May 1927 - 6 Feb 1952: "By the
Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and of the
British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the
Faith, Emperor of India" (the title "Emperor of India"
was dropped as of 15 Aug 1947 by retroactive
proclamation dated 22 Jun 1948); (c) 6 Feb 1952 - 29 May 1953: "By the
Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British
Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith";
(d) 29 May 1953 - 6 Feb 1974: "By the
Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her
other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith"; (e) from 6 Feb 1974: "By the Grace of
God, Queen of New Zealand and Her other Realms and
Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the
Faith; and from 1 Aug 1987 (in Māori):
I raro i te Maru o Te Atua, te Kuini o Aotearoa me ana
ake Rohe me ana Whenua, te Upoko o Ngā
Herenga ki Ingarangi, te Kaiwaowao o te Whakapono.

2full
title: (a) 26 Sep 1907 - 27 Nov 1907: "Governor and
Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand
and its Dependencies"; (b) 27 Nov 1907 - 28 Jun 1917: "Governor and
Commander-in-Chief in and over the Dominion of New
Zealand"; (c) 28 Jun 1917 - 1 Nov 1983: "Governor-general
and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Dominion
of New Zealand"; (d) from 1 Nov 1983: "Governor-general and
Commander-in-Chief in and over the Realm of New Zealand;
and from 1 Aug 1987 (in Māori):
Kāwana-Tianara o te Whenua o Aotearoa.

3The
titles premier and first minister were variously applied
to each of the principal ministers until 1869, when
premier became customary. Although the title prime
minister was first used formally in the Schedule of the
Civil List Act of 1873, no one used the title officially
until Richard John Seddon, beginning in 1893. In 1906
William Hall-Jones was the first person to be officially
appointed to such a position. James Edward FitzGerald
and Thomas Spencer Forsaith are regarded
by some historians as having headed up Governments from
the dates 14 Jun 1854 to 2 Aug 1854 and 31 Aug 1854 to 2
Sep 1854 respectively. However, neither held the post of
Colonial Secretary which normally denoted the Head of
Government back then, and both of them served prior to
the introduction of responsible self-government thus most historians regard Sewell as
the first Prime minister or Head of Government.

Territorial Dispute: Antarctic
territorial claim (Ross Dependency)
is not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia,
or by other countries (other than Australia, France,
Norway and U.K.).

Note: The first two kings were
leaders of the revolt against the colony; after the
second king's surrender he and his successors maintained
a symbolic and prestigious community leadership to this
day.

2 Jun 1858
Kingship established (included the area south of
Auckland,
encompassing Lake Taupo and to the edge of the
Taranaki region.
Tribes in this area include Waikato [the King's tribe],
Ngāti
Maniapoto, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāti
Tūwharetoa; The
King also had kāwana (governors)
representing other tribes
outside his territory - these seem to have covered
most of New
Zealand but did not hold universal authority in
their regions). 1863/64
Colonial government
conquers the Waikato region and took the
King's capital (Ngāruawāhia), the King retreated
south of the
Puniu River into Ngāti Maniapoto territory and
remained head
of a reduced 'King Country'). 12 Aug
1881
Surrender to the New Zealand government, royalty
continues.
12 Apr
1894
Constitution promulgated by Kīngitanga for
"Aotearoa", recognizing
the Te
Kauhanganui (parliament) under a Ngā Tumuaki o
te
Kīngitanga (presidents of the King Movement, as
premiers of
the
great council).

17 Jun 1892
Maori Unity
Movement (Te Kotahitanga
o te Tiriti oWaitangi)
established (not recognized by New Zealand or
directly affiliated with the "King Movement").May 1895
Attempt to unite the Te
Kotahitanga and Te Kīngitanga parliaments
fail.
1902
Final meeting of the Te Kotahitanga is held at Waiōmatatini,
its role is largely superseded by Māoricouncils.14 Jan
1904
Following the death Hamuera Tamahau
Mahupuku no one replaces
him and the movement dissolves.